Bulletin column 6/2/11

DRIVING BAN LIFTED

A lifetime prohibition from driving was lifted for Daniel A. Noble, 32, Moscow, Friday in superior court. Noble was arrested in December of 2009 after the car he was driving hit two students in the WSU campus. Noble was found not guilty by reason of insanity May 21 of last year after under going extended examinations and a court hearing. He was ordered to submit periodic reports on his treatment.

The court ruled Friday that Noble was licensed, insured and had passed all tests to qualify to again be driving.

FEDERAL WAY DRIVER HURT

Chase R. Nelson, 20, Federal Way, sustained a possible head injury in a one-car accident Monday on Highway 23 about 11.5 miles south of Lamont. According to the Washington State Patrol report, he was driving a 2002 Subaru Impreza southbound at 5 p.m. and failed to negotiate a curve to the right. The car went across the northbound lane, struck a rock pile and rolled. It came to a halt on its wheels in the northbound ditch.

He was transported to Whitman Hospital for a checkup by a Rosalia ambulance crew.

ASSAULT ARREST IN COLFAX

Gary D. Hartford, 22, Colfax, was arrested early Saturday and booked into jail on a probable charge of second degree assault. The arrest followed an investigation of a domestic violence report. Hartford was released on $2,500 bond. A formal charge had not been filed as of Tuesday.

TRIAL DATE SET ON ARSON CHARGE

Michael D. Walton, 23, Pullman, pleaded not guilty in superior court Friday to a charge of second degree arson. The court set an Aug. 15 trial date and allowed Walton pre-trial release from jail.

Walton was arrested May 26 on a bench warrant after failing to appear for his first arraignment date the previous Friday, May 20.

He was initially arrested early May 12 by Pullman Police on a charge of starting a fire in a dumpster.

KING NABBED AFTER HI-SPEED CHASE

William F. King, 26, Everett, was ordered held on $50,000 bail by Judge David Frazier Friday morning after allegedly leading deputies on a high speed chase in a stolen truck through the Colfax school neighborhood late May 26.

In the arrest report, Deputy Tim Cox said he saw a red pickup with Texas license plates driving in front of Jennings Elementary School at approximately 50 to 60 miles per hour around 11 p.m.

Dep. Cox pulled behind the pickup heading south on Highway 195. When Cox turned on his lights and siren, the pickup accelerated down Main Street and took a hard left on Tyler Street at the Cougar Food Mart. Cox’s report said King then tried to elude him on Morton Street, reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour before turning onto Cedar Street and heading north on Highway 195 up Buck Canyon.

Cox said King was weaving as he drove up the canyon, at one point crossing the centerline into the oncoming lane and forcing a southbound semi onto the shoulder. The pickup eventually stopped by the Tar Tanks turn off on 195. King was handcuffed and booked into the county jail on charges of DUI, attempting to elude officers, second degree driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and possession of a stolen vehicle.

The pickup was registered to Chad Marsh of Pullman. Cox’s report said Marsh did not know King, nor did he know his pickup was missing when contacted by the sheriff’s office

In calling King a flight risk and a “danger to the citizens of Colfax,” Prosecutor Denis Tracy asked Judge Frazier to set a $100,000 bail, citing 12 previous criminal convictions dating back to 1999.

WAZZU GRIDDER PINCHED AGAIN

Pullman Police arrested WSU football player Louis Bland for the second time in three months May 24. Bland was arrested and later released on a felony count of possession of a controlled substance and on misdemeanor counts of marijuana possession and possession of stolen property.

According to the arrest report, officers smelled marijuana coming from Bland’s College Hill apartment while responding to a noise complaint around 1:30 a.m. Officers then obtained a search warrant for Bland’s home where they found marijuana along with pills and a powdery substance, which was not identified after testing. Officers also reportedly found a stolen stop sign.

In April, Bland agreed to a plea bargain which dismissed charges against him for a February domestic violence arrest. Those charges were dropped under the plea deal as long as Bland stayed out of legal trouble for one year.

SHRED DAY NETS $1,040

Last Monday’s Shred Day, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, netted $1,040 in donations. The day offered a shredding service at the Rosauers’ lot. Rosauers, Whitman County Recycling and Recall participated in the event.

The proceeds will be used for Colfax Christmas lighting decorations and funding Hullabaloo which has been scheduled for Oct. 7-8.

Because of the strong response, the chamber will try to have a Shred Day every year after tax season.

GARFIELD MAN HURT IN ROLLOVER

Scott W. Rosser, 51, Garfield, sustained possible neck injuries in a one-car rollover accident south of Garfield early May 22. Rosser was a passenger in a 2000 Ford Mustang driven by Jonathan Radford, 47, Garfield.

According to the Washington State Patrol report, Radford was driving the Mustang north on Highway 27 and lost control of the car when it went onto the shoulder of the highway. The car crossed the centerline and southbound lane and then crossed back to the northbound lane and rolled onto its top in the ditch along the northbound lane. Radford was not hurt.

DEER HIT IN S CURVES

Allison R. Sande, 20, Arlington, was unhurt May 25 when the 2008 Mercury she was driving collided with a deer in the S curves south of Colfax. According to the Washington State Patrol report, she was driving south at 3:16 p.m. when the deer ran onto the roadway and hit the car.

GOLF SHOT SUSPECTS RELEASED

The two suspects arrested May 21 for allegedly hitting golf balls at Pullman Police cars on N. Grand were allowed release on their own recognizance May 23 after a first appearance in superior court. They were ordered to return to court June 3 for arraignment in the event they are formally charged. Scott P. Langdon, 24, told the court he would reside at Bremerton, and Collin J. Tuggle, 22, said he would reside at Bothell.

ROGERS, SCHAUB FACE REVOCATION

Prosecutor Denis Tracy filed motions to revoke the alternative drug offender sentences of Michael Schaub and Pamela Rogers May 25 in superior court. Schaub and Rogers were booked into jail May 24 and orders to keep them in custody were issued by the court.

A warrant for Rogers arrest was issued Friday after she failed to appear in court on charges of violating supervision. The charges against Rogers alleged she had changed her residence without notifying her probation supervisor and that tests to determine drug use came back positive.

The report said Rogers could not be located in LaCrosse where she had been residing since her release for drug treatment.

The motion to revoke Schaub’s drug offender sentence also alleged he had changed his residence without notifying his probation supervisor. The report also alleges Schaub admitted using methamphetamine although results of sample tests have not yet been received.

Schaub and Rogers last year were convicted of multiple counts of being in possession of property Pullman police said was stolen from unoccupied student residences during the 2009 holiday break. They were ordered to undergo inpatient treatment for drug use as part of the alternate sentence. However, they later were charged with violating a court-ordered no contact ban by passing notes at a Spokane Valley Drug treatment center.

In the motions to revoke their alternative sentences, Prosecutor Tracy asked the court to impose the standard sentence for the convictions for possession of stolen property.